The basis of any genre of writing is creating a world
that is credible to the reader.

This aspect of developing an entertaining "ride
for the reader's money" is critical to success.
Thus, with that main paradigm at the forefront of all
creative endeavors, a writer can easily slide between
genres as distinct as romance, to women's fiction, to
even horror. I know - I've done it in 14 novels.

Now one might rightfully ask, how in the heck does a
"romance writer,' go from the world of wine and
roses to "the dark side," with ease and grace?
How can a "horror writer" make such villainous
characters - like vampires - seem so endearing?

Again, the answer is simple: develop your characters
based upon realistic human emotions and reactions to
stimuli in your novel plot.

Within every good book, what makes for reality-suspended
reading is ironically reality. If your characters are
credible, the way they see the world is identifiable as
true to life, because you can empathize with their
thoughts and feelings.

Any situation you hurl your characters into has rules
that you, the writer and creator of your fictional world,
should not violate. By finding the thoughts and actions
that are true to your characters' personalities and
sticking to them, you will create a captivating book.

Emotions are the centerpiece. From there, the action fans
out in a ripple effect that embraces (or traps) your
characters. The moment your characters behave in a way
that is less than believable, then your
reader is jerked back from their escape, away from the
world you've created within your book, and they are
halted by one thought: "Huh? Naaaaah . Get
out of here-nobody would do that."

And, the moment that thought occurs within the reader's
head, you've lost them.

The reader then becomes a "flaw detective,"
looking for other violated laws of reality within the
novel until they are no longer held to the plot.
Conversely, if they believe the emotions and bond to the
characters, then whatever world you thrust them into,
they're with the story for the duration.

A lot of focus is often put on solid plotting and action,
and in truth, there is no substitute for that. However,
it is not the primary force within the story. It all
begins with people, as your readers are people, and
that's what the readers bond to-first.